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Bournemouth negative publicity 'impacting hotel bookings'

Social media,making money playing online poker anti-immigration protests and visitors leaving rubbish on the beach are among the issues that a hotel owner has said are impacting bookings.

Rosie Radwell owns the Marsham Court Hotel that overlooks some of Bournemouth beach.

She told the BBC bookings had been down for part of the summer and "scaremongering" by some parts of the media had led to cancellations.

Ms Radwell is part of the BH Area Hospitality Association (BAHA), which has launched a new campaign to showcase the best of Bournemouth and challenge the "negative perception" of the town.

She said when guests cancelled their bookings with the hotel they had to put the reason in writing: "Other hotels in the areas where guests have cancelled say it is because of what has been going on in the media."

In June, the town was at the centre of national headlines because of an influx of visitors parking illegally, that was followed by reports of a large amount of rubbish being left on the beach.

In July, a teenage girl and police officers were injured after a fight in lower gardens and last month Dorset Police increased the number of foot patrols carried out by officers with City of London Police drafted in to assist.

A group of locals set up a street patrol group that described itself as a voluntary community service to "protect the most vulnerable".

Following that the BBC went on patrol with Dorset Police to see what it does to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Ms Radwell said that people were entitled to their opinions, but the situation in Bournemouth was "not as bad as what people are saying".

"Yes, we have asylum seeker hotels but it is nothing to do with us as an industry," she said," she said.

"If you keep pushing it out there, it is making it an issue for people wanting to come and they don't then feel safe.

"Some of the press have said that we've got the worst beaches when we know they are beautiful.

"Photos are being shown of the rubbish at the end of the day, but they don't show what a great job the council do clearing it up."

The Marsham Court Hotel's quietest weekend this year was 29 August to 1 September, when it was only 47% full.

August had more bookings this summer compared to last year, but May, June and July saw less.

Ms Radwell said as a result this year the hotel had decided to take on more big group bookings.

David Bailey is president of the Destination Management Board in Bournemouth that represents local businesses and groups.

"I think most businesses have a feeling of frustration, everybody is working incredibly hard," he said.

"It is a very challenging time for all areas of the hospitality and the negative publicity that our area has garnered this summer has just impacted horrendously on these businesses."

He said the hospitality industry was not just hotels, bars and restaurants.

"It's a huge industry and I think we need to come together and put some pressure on local and central government to try and address some of the issues that we have."

"We have issues, of course we have issues which town doesn't but we're managing them and it's a great place to visit," he added.

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